This is why I like Audax -- hard to imagine this without a podium in the first place. Sure, someone might cheat to finish an event. In Japan, hop a train and rinko-it through a difficult stretch to get some rest? But really, not very likely, and you would only be cheating yourself.

6 comments:

Cheating yourself, just as the article says about those cases. Audax participants may not compete for time or position, but they still want to complete, and they may need completion to qualify for bigger events. So I would never exclude the possibility someone may be cheating, even if it seems remote.

Hi Manfred. Yes, it could happen even in Audax. A DNF is not fun. The feeling of the events is so cooperative and friendly, that is why I have a hard time imagining cheating.Even for PBP you only need a 200, 300, 400 and 600 series, and there are many, many opportunities to complete each distance, and if you cannot complete it legitimately, how are you going to manage 1200kms? There is no "if I do not get on the podium, I will not get a spot at Kona for the world championships of Ironman this year!" as I heard of and witnessed at the few triathlons I joined. And anyone cheating to, say, get the last event completed they need for a particular randonneuring award ... is not pushing anyone else off of the podium.

Just to follow up -- the Okayama 1200 offered some opportunities to save both distance and climbing by taking short cuts and poorly placed controls -- and the organizer wanting to have participants detour through various historic districts, which would add extra distance and time. So yes, I am sure (and witnessed) a few people take alternate routes, whether intentionally or not. But this was pretty unusual for Audax. Usually the courses are designed so that any short cut requires either nastier traffic, more climbs, longer distance -- and the risk of missing a secret control point. And I think there are some audax clubs who interpret the rules as simply requiring that riders pass through the control points, and view the cue sheet/course as a mere recommendation.